The Decline of Tiger Doin Work Roundtable

There has been much press recently on the first time Tiger Woods has looked like a mortal. Many are stating that Tiger’s career may be over, but ESPN writer Gene Wojekowski thinks differently. We decided to discuss the “meltdown” Tiger suffered on the way to losing his first major.

Tony: I think implying that he choked is stretching a bit. He played GREAT golf, but the variables to putting can be complex and sometimes it just doesn’t click. A choke is Harrington carding a snowman on 12 (or whatever hole it was), or the week previously when he imploded late, or Watson sending an easy 8 iron 15 yrds long to win a major a choke. I believe tiger had one three putt all day…I don’t buy the idea he totally choked, did he have a crappy day on the greens? TOTALLY. His putts were close all day…how many edge burners did he have….he started with a nasty putt that set the tone for the rest of the day. It didn’t click for him and he lost…but I think “choke” is a strong word. Downside at 33? To even suggest that is totally ignorant IMHO. Haters!!

Brian: Yeah, it’s not like he had that terrible of a round. By his standards it may have been terrible, but overall he wasn’t that bad on Sunday. I think the idea of his career being on the downslide is ridiculous. Every golfer has bad putting days, we just aren’t used to seeing it from Tiger on a Sunday of a major. This is the main reasons he has been the best golfer in the world, because he doesn’t have many days like this! I think he comes back next year pissed off and wins a minimum of two majors.

Andre: Seriously, I almost vomited when I read that one line filler. Tiger played great all week tee to green, and until Sunday was making putts as well. It doesn’t matter if he only 3-putt once or twice, he had several birdie putts in the 8-12 ft range that he usually makes on his way to victory while leading by two, starting off with his miss on the first hole, and his timely three putt on the 17th hole. That’s not the way Tiger, the best putter under pressure in the game, does on a Major Sunday. He shot 75 for christ sake!! He made 5 bogeys, and we know he hates to make even 1!

Tony: I agree with everything…(I was waiting for you to mention the 75!)….but putting is complex…if it doesn’t click I don’t think it equates automatically to a “choke” situation. But really this is all semantics; he will silence everybody about this hiccup sooner rather then later…and have the real last laugh when he nips Snead and Jack respectively down the road.

Andre: I think we need to hold Tiger to a higher standard. Why would we stop now? That’s why I keep referencing he’s THE BEST PUTTER EVER, especially IN THE CLUTCH. He’s not you or me where putting comes an goes. After his re-hab from knee surgery, his short game was supposed to be so strong. And he had gotten it into really good shape the past three tourneys. Why let him off for the biggest round of all 12 previous rounds? Sunday at a Major!! Don’t let him off so easy I tell you!!

Brian: I have to say that I am a hater, but in the end golf wouldn’t be nearly as fun to watch without him at the top of his game. We might have more likable guys on tour to root for, but it’s much different than watching a player that is obviously the best. He’s far from done, and I don’t think you could convince any of his peers that he’s on the downside of his career either… This is pretty funny…